Can Colbert Play It Straight?

Anchor of Parody Talk Show to Succeed David Letterman on CBS 'Late Show'

By

Merissa Marr

Updated April 10, 2014 8:40 p.m. ET

Every year, Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert sets up a 1-888-OOPS-JEW hotline to give Jews an opportunity to apologize to him in the 10 days of repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Mr. Colbert mispronounces the Jewish holy days, blows the "dead ram" Shofar and brings out his atonement phone.

"Oh children of Israel, once again I look forward to your apologies to me. To quote your Jewish Pope Moses—'revenge is...